Latest news with #SophiaJackson
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Puffin-counting season begins with two new livestreams
It's puffin-counting season–and you can watch. Bird monitors on the Farne Islands off the northeastern coast of England are tallying the roughly 200,000 seabirds that return to this important sanctuary every year. In honor of the 100th year of bird monitoring by the National Trust, two webcams have been set up by the conservation organization on the 28-island archipelago in the frosty North Sea. The first webcam will be fixed on the puffin burrows. Here, viewers can look out for 'parading puffins and ruffled feathers' while the males defend their territory. Puffin pairs will also be billing, or rubbing their bills together to reinforce their bonds. Towards the end of the season in late July, viewers may spot young pufflings when they fledge the nest. The second webcam will cover the rugged cliffs where puffins, guillemots, razorbills, shags, and various species of gull typically gather. Viewers can spot birds coming and going to feed their young, including birds of prey such as the peregrine falcon and merlin. 'In this significant year we want more people to become 'watchers' of this annual spectacle to have a window into this unique world,' Sophia Jackson, Area Ranger on the Farne Islands for the National Trust, said in a statement. 'We hope by seeing the birds, people will be inspired to visit in person one day, but also to realise just how special these wild isles are, and how we must do all we can to ensure these islands and bird species have a long and healthy future ahead.' The islands sit about 1.5 miles off the coast of Northumberland, England and are an ideal habitat for 23 species of seabirds. It is also an important stop-off point for migratory birds from long eared owls to blue throats and ring ouzels. The islands are also home to a significant colony of grey seals who return each year to pup. The seabirds that make this annual migration to breed also include cliff-nesting birds such as razorbills, guillemots, and kittiwakes, ground nesting birds such as terns (Arctic, Common and Roseate), and the endangered puffins. The puffins build burrows underground to lay their eggs and raise any 'pufflings' that hatch. Studying these small colorful-beaked birds has been a draw for scientists in the area for over a century. 'The earliest official scientific records for seabirds date from 1913,' Jackson added. 'Reports for the majority of returning bird species started in the 1920s thanks to the 'watchers' stationed on the islands over the summer period, and in 1939 puffins were particularly noted as increasing.' While viewers get to watch the antics of the 'clowns of the sea,' the team from the National Trust will be doing the important work of counting, weighing, and banding some of the birds. The colored rings will help scientists better track the birds, who are threatened by dwindling and shifting fish stocks and rising ocean temperatures. [ Related: In Iceland, humans throwing baby puffins is a good thing. ] 'Despite puffins spending much of their time 'rafting' out at sea, ringing them will help us to understand more about the individuals as we'll be able to follow them over several years, as well as how long they live and how far they travel to other colonies,' Area Ranger Tom Hendry said in a statement. 'Over the next few weeks, we'll aim to ring 50 adult birds as part of our census and productivity monitoring.' Reported sightings of blue rings by other rangers, research organizations, and the public elsewhere will indicate that the adults that breed on the Farnes will be a useful measurement for tracking the birds' movements and well being. The team will also be using geolocation tags to better understand the various species on the island. The tags were first put on some Arctic terns in 2015 and retrieved in 2016. 'In using tracking technology we were able to discover for the first time just how far the Arctic terns travel during their annual migration with distances of up to 70,800 miles recorded – or to put this into context, close to three times around the globe each year which means they witness two summers! When you think about what that means over the lifetime of one of these tiny seabirds, it is nothing short of incredible,' said Jackson. This year's puffin count and other seabird numbers will be particularly important. The islands were closed for three seasons between 2020 and 2024 due to COVID-19, followed immediately by bird flu. According to the team, the data they were able to collect last year indicated that the puffin population was 'stable' with 50,000 pairs recorded. However, species like shags and terns saw large losses, primarily due to winter storms and bird flu. Looking towards the next 100 years, the team stresses that they are doing their best to ensure that the seabirds have a bright future, despite enormous threats from climate change. 'Shining a spotlight on seabirds and their migratory routes crossing many international boundaries shows how what happens to wildlife elsewhere has a huge impact on the birdlife we see here,' added Rosie Hails, Director of Nature & Science at the National Trust. 'These annual cycles illustrate the vulnerability of our wildlife and how vitally important clean and healthy seas and oceans are to ensuring our seabird populations have the stability needed to recover and grow.'
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Daily Mail
How many rangers does it take to weigh a puffin? Sweet snaps show birds as they're set to become 'internet sensations'
Lights, scales? While they may not realise they are on their way to stardom, rare seabirds have been weighed and assessed by National Trust rangers ahead of their internet debut as the annual puffin count gets underway. Webcams have been set up on the Farne Islands, just off the Northumberland coast, so that more people can become seabird 'watchers'. The hope is that this insight will help Brits 'realise just how special these wild isles are, and how we must do all we can to ensure these islands and bird species have a long and healthy future ahead'. The 28-island strong archipelago (depending on the tide) is only accessible to visitors by boat from Seahouses but is home to 23 species of seabirds. Human visitor numbers have been restricted in recent years, firstly by the Covid lockdown and then by avian flu which badly affected some species. To mark the centenary of the National Trust taking over the wildlife haven, keen ornithologists and budding twitchers alike will be allowed in to see the isolated lives on this secluded environment online. One camera will be trained on the puffin burrows and one on the cliffs where some of the 200,000 seabirds gather every year to breed. Area ranger Sophia Jackson said: 'In this significant year we want more people to become 'watchers' of this annual spectacle to have a window into this unique world. 'We hope by seeing the birds, people will be inspired to visit in person one day, but also to realise just how special these wild isles are, and how we must do all we can to ensure these islands and bird species have a long and healthy future ahead.' She stressed the importance of tracking bird populations to keep conservation data up to date and informing scientists on the right steps for their future. The trust has been monitoring seabird numbers since the 1950s with the data used to direct conservation work after they took over ownership in 1925 from the Farne Islands Association. Ms Jackson added that it was helpful 'for keeping track of the impacts of climate change through warming seas and more frequent storms'. 'Warming sea temperatures and the availability of the seabirds' food sources, as in different sorts of fish moving further northwards to find cooler temperatures, also means that the birds are expending more energy to seek out the food, and also spending more time away from the nest resulting in starvation or abandonment of young chicks.' Around 45,000 people visit the Farne islands on boat trips every year to take in views of up to 23 species, including 43,000 puffin pairs, as well as a large colony of grey seals Regarding the next 100 years, the ranger said: 'We are doing the best we can to ensure all our seabirds have a bright future. 'But climate change, especially its impact on the severity of winter storms, and extreme weather events are the biggest threats facing both our seabirds and seal populations. 'Summer storms resulting in heavy rain at the wrong time of year can flood puffin burrows on the islands, as well as impacting how the birds fare when on their migrating routes.' Winter storms can also wash seal pups off the rocks and several pups died when Storm Arwen hit the islands in 2021, she said.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
Farne Island puffins ‘may not survive the next century'
Seabirds on the Farne Islands, including puffins, may not survive the next century. Sophia Jackson, an area ranger, warned that climate change and extreme weather 'are the biggest threats facing both our seabirds and seal populations'. It comes as the National Trust sets up two webcams so visitors can watch the seabird breeding season to mark the centenary of the charity taking over the islands off the Northumberland coast. One will be trained on the puffin burrows and one on the cliffs where some of the 200,000 seabirds gather every year to breed. National Trust rangers will carry out the annual puffin count to monitor the number of breeding pairs. The wildlife haven, accessible to visitors by boat from Seahouses, is made up of as many as 28 islands depending on the tide and is home to 23 species of seabirds. Visitor numbers have been restricted in recent years, firstly by the Covid lockdown and then by avian flu which badly affected some species. The webcams will allow even more people to experience the birds' bustling lives on the islands. Regarding the next 100 years, Ms Jackson said: 'We are doing the best we can to ensure all our seabirds have a bright future. 'But climate change, especially its impact on the severity of winter storms, and extreme weather events are the biggest threats facing both our seabirds and seal populations. 'Summer storms resulting in heavy rain at the wrong time of year can flood puffin burrows on the islands, as well as impacting how the birds fare when on their migrating routes. 'Winter storms can also wash seal pups off the rocks and several pups perished when Storm Arwen hit the islands in 2021. 'Warming sea temperatures and the availability of the seabirds' food sources, as in different sorts of fish moving further northwards to find cooler temperatures, also means that the birds are expending more energy to seek out the food, and also spending more time away from the nest resulting in starvation or abandonment of young chicks.' She added: 'In this significant year we want more people to become 'watchers' of this annual spectacle to have a window into this unique world. 'We hope by seeing the birds, people will be inspired to visit in person one day, but also to realise just how special these wild isles are, and how we must do all we can to ensure these islands and bird species have a long and healthy future ahead.' The National Trust took over ownership in 1925 from the Farne Islands Association and it has been monitoring seabird numbers since the 1950s with the data used to direct conservation work Ms Jackson said: 'Looking back on the records for the different populations, it is very clear how important regular monitoring of the different seabird populations has been – despite different methodologies – for informing our conservation work on the islands, but also for keeping track of the impacts of climate change through warming seas and more frequent storms.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
13-05-2025
- Climate
- Telegraph
Farne Island puffins ‘may not survive the next century'
Seabirds on the Farne Islands, including puffins, may not survive the next century. Sophia Jackson, an area ranger, warned that climate change and extreme weather 'are the biggest threats facing both our seabirds and seal populations'. It comes as the National Trust sets up two webcams so visitors can watch the seabird breeding season to mark the centenary of the charity taking over the islands off the Northumberland coast. One will be trained on the puffin burrows and one on the cliffs where some of the 200,000 seabirds gather every year to breed. National Trust rangers will carry out the annual puffin count to monitor the number of breeding pairs. The wildlife haven, accessible to visitors by boat from Seahouses, is made up of as many as 28 islands depending on the tide and is home to 23 species of seabirds. Visitor numbers have been restricted in recent years, firstly by the Covid lockdown and then by avian flu which badly affected some species. The webcams will allow even more people to experience the birds' bustling lives on the islands. Regarding the next 100 years, Ms Jackson said: 'We are doing the best we can to ensure all our seabirds have a bright future. 'But climate change, especially its impact on the severity of winter storms, and extreme weather events are the biggest threats facing both our seabirds and seal populations. 'Summer storms resulting in heavy rain at the wrong time of year can flood puffin burrows on the islands, as well as impacting how the birds fare when on their migrating routes. 'Winter storms can also wash seal pups off the rocks and several pups perished when Storm Arwen hit the islands in 2021. ' Warming sea temperatures and the availability of the seabirds' food sources, as in different sorts of fish moving further northwards to find cooler temperatures, also means that the birds are expending more energy to seek out the food, and also spending more time away from the nest resulting in starvation or abandonment of young chicks.' She added: 'In this significant year we want more people to become 'watchers' of this annual spectacle to have a window into this unique world. 'We hope by seeing the birds, people will be inspired to visit in person one day, but also to realise just how special these wild isles are, and how we must do all we can to ensure these islands and bird species have a long and healthy future ahead.' The National Trust took over ownership in 1925 from the Farne Islands Association and it has been monitoring seabird numbers since the 1950s with the data used to direct conservation work Ms Jackson said: 'Looking back on the records for the different populations, it is very clear how important regular monitoring of the different seabird populations has been – despite different methodologies – for informing our conservation work on the islands, but also for keeping track of the impacts of climate change through warming seas and more frequent storms.'
The Independent
13-05-2025
- The Independent
Farne Islands' seabird spectacular to be shown on webcams
Wildlife lovers will be able to get a close-up view of the spectacular sight of thousands of seabirds gathering on the internationally important Farne Islands. To mark the centenary of the National Trust taking over the islands off the Northumberland coast, the conservation charity is setting up two webcams so people can watch the seabird breeding season. One will be trained on the puffin burrows and one on the cliffs where some of the 200,000 seabirds gather every year to breed. National Trust rangers will carry out the annual puffin count to monitor the number of breeding pairs. The wildlife haven, accessible to visitors by boat from Seahouses, is made up of as many as 28 islands depending on the tide and is home to 23 species of seabirds. Human visitor numbers have been restricted in recent years, firstly by the Covid lockdown and then by avian flu which badly affected some species. The webcams will allow even more people to experience the birds' bustling lives on the islands. Area ranger Sophia Jackson said: 'In this significant year we want more people to become 'watchers' of this annual spectacle to have a window into this unique world. 'We hope by seeing the birds, people will be inspired to visit in person one day, but also to realise just how special these wild isles are, and how we must do all we can to ensure these islands and bird species have a long and healthy future ahead.' The trust took over ownership in 1925 from the Farne Islands Association and it has been monitoring seabird numbers since the 1950s with the data used to direct conservation work. Ms Jackson said: 'Looking back on the records for the different populations it is very clear how important regular monitoring of the different seabird populations has been – despite different methodologies – for informing our conservation work on the islands, but also for keeping track of the impacts of climate change through warming seas and more frequent storms.' Regarding the next 100 years, the ranger added: 'We are doing the best we can to ensure all our seabirds have a bright future. 'But climate change, especially its impact on the severity of winter storms, and extreme weather events are the biggest threats facing both our seabirds and seal populations. 'Summer storms resulting in heavy rain at the wrong time of year can flood puffin burrows on the islands, as well as impacting how the birds fare when on their migrating routes. 'Winter storms can also wash seal pups off the rocks and several pups perished when Storm Arwen hit the islands in 2021. 'Warming sea temperatures and the availability of the seabirds' food sources, as in different sorts of fish moving further northwards to find cooler temperatures, also means that the birds are expending more energy to seek out the food, and also spending more time away from the nest resulting in starvation or abandonment of young chicks.'
